Jack Charlton turned to Packie and said: 'The Pope could have saved that!'

Simon Cass hears Andy Townsend, Sportsmail columnist and former Irish World Cup captain in USA 1994, recall some of his fondest memories from Ireland’s greatest journeys.

It's murder on thedance floor for Aldo...

After our final qualifying game against Malta for Italia 90, we went back to the hotel, got changed very quickly and headed off to a nightclub.

There were so many Irish fans in there the owner of the place ended up giving us a little area upstairs. But the toilets were downstairs.

We were upstairs having a few beers and John Aldridge couldn’t wait any longer to go to the loo. He tried to sneak to the toilet but couldn’t make his way past all the Irish fans.

Within five minutes, they were throwing Aldo around above their heads on the dance floor. We were all killing ourselves laughing watching Aldo screaming at them to put him down because he was bursting for the toilet. They were tossing him around in the air. Hilarious!

Big Jack's guide to penalties...

Whack it: Charlton

When you think about penalties beforehand, the very thought of it stiffens the legs and sends a shudder down the spine. But after 120 minutes of playing, particularly against Romania in intense heat in 1990, you’re not tense or tight, you’re just knackered.

Big Jack kept telling everyone, “Put your foot through it and f****** whack it!” Thankfully, we totally ignored him and managed to get ourselves through!

It was always a bit of a firm side-foot from me. I put mine to the goalie’s right and thankfully he went the wrong way.

You must not change your mind, too many penalties are missed in big competitions because players put the ball on the spot and don’t have that clear picture in their mind.

An audience with the Pope, but no divine intervention...

As soon as we had won the penalty shoot-out against Romania, not only did we realise that we were on our way to play the host nation in Rome, but we were also on our way to meet Pope John Paul II.

We went to the Vatican and it was an amazing day, an amazing experience. We met the Pope privately in a room with just ourselves in there.

He said a few words to Packie Bonner, telling him he used to be a goalkeeper when he was growing up in Poland.

In the game against Italy, Packie made a save from Roberto Donadoni but the ball came back out to Salvatore Schillaci who banged it in. That was the goal that put us out.

Afterwards, you realise it is all over and you are going home. Big Jack was there trying to lift us saying: "Never mind lads, you have done magnificently but it is time for us to go home.”

Then, as we are all gathering up our bags, Jack turned round to Packie and said: ‘By the way, the f****** Pope would have saved that!’

A proper Charlie...

We got to the Giants Stadium around two hours before kick-off. There you are sitting around, relaxing.

Eventually we get warmed up, get changed and walked down into the tunnel. As captain, I am stood there next to Franco Baresi. I have got a white shirt, green shorts and white socks on. I am looking at Baresi and he has got a white shirt, blue shirts and white socks on.

He is giving the old finger as if to say “you have got the wrong kit on”. I give him the old finger back as if to say “Nah mate, it is you who has got the wrong kit on”.

Sure enough it was us and five minutes before kick-off, the dressing room descended into chaos. Jack threatened to lynch our little kit-man Charlie O’Leary.

Up four it: Ray Houghton, Townsend, Terry Phelan and Steve Staunton take guard

Charlton in need...

Jack was fined £10,000 by FIFA after rowing with the fourth official. We had filled out the form wrongly for a substitution. Typical!

It was a standing joke that when Jack bought us a drink he never used to put his hand in his pocket. He always used to write a cheque out and they would pin it up above the bar as a memento.

Sure enough, we have lost to Mexico and I have gone past his room and saw the door was open. He was sat there looking very glum. I said to him: ‘Listen Jack, we are not out of this yet. We’ll turn Norway over, don’t get too fed up.’